Pre-fabricated facia

ABSTRACT

Prefabricated facia in strip form, viz. extruded aluminum, has a reinforced body panel to be disposed in closing relation along the ends of rafter tails with a flashing and attachment flange along the upper edge of the body panel overlying the edge of roof sheathing on the rafters and underlying roof covering such as shingles. Along its lower edge the body panel has an attachment flange to underlie the rafter tails and provided with a soffit channel in which a margin of a soffit panel is adapted to be engaged. To connect adjoining edges of soffit panels, a joint connector bar is provided.

United States Patent 1191 Monroe June 11, 1974 [75] Inventor: 9 Munme Prospect Architectural Record 12/1957, Pages 70, 71.

He1ghts, Ill. [73] Assignee: Active Garage Builders, Inc., Primary ExaminerAlfred C. Perham Chicago, Ill. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Hill, Gross, Simpson, Van [22] Filed: Sept. 1, 1972 Santen, Steadman, Chiara & S1mpson [21] Appl. N0.Z 285,932 57 ABSTRACT Prefabricated facia in strip form, viz. extruded alurni- [52] US. Cl. 52/94, 52/738 num, has a re nforced body panel tq'be disposed in [51] Int. Cl 1304!! 13/15 closing relation along the ends of rafter tails with a [58] Field of Search 52/738, 94 flashing and attachment flange along the upper edge of the body panel overlying the edge of roof sheathing [56] Referenc s C t on the rafters and underlying roof covering such as UNITED STATES PATENTS shingles. Along its lower edge the body panel has an 2 857 86! 10/1958 Trostle 52/94 attachment flange to underlie the rafter tails and 3I107I401 10/1963 Heirichi vided with a Soffit Channel in which a margin of a 3,l35,070 6/1964 Waring et al fit panel is adapted to be engaged. To connect adjoin- 3,l70,266 2/1965 Roberts et a]. 52/94 ing edges of sofiit panels, a joint connector bar is pro 3,344,566 10/1967 Miles et al. 52/94 videri 3,411,251 11/1968 Corry 52/94 3,456,406 7/1969 Bransford, Jr. 52/94 3 Clalms, 5 Drawing Figures view taken substantially in I PRE-FABRlCATEI) rncm This invention relates to building construction and is more particularly concerned with a new and improved prefabricated facia as well as a facia and soffit assembly.

Facia in building construction has heretofore commonly consisted in boards of suitable length and width. Sometimes the facia boards have been covered with protective sheet material such as aluminum. In other words, where a non-wood facia surface has been desired heretofore a sheet material covering has been applied over the facia board. Similarly, where nonwooden surface for the soffit has been desired sheet metal such as aluminum has been applied after the soffit has been built from wooden or similar panel material.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved prefabricated facia which will eliminate any need for facia boarding.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved extruded metal such as aluminum facia in continuous strip form.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved prefabricated metal facia especially adapted to facilitateassembly of metal faced sofflt pan- 'eling therewith.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved prefabricated facia and soffit sys' tem.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, although variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts embodied in the disclosure, and in which:

FIG. I is a fragmentary enlarged sectional elevational detail of a building construction embodying features of the invention and taken substantially along the line I-l of FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a reduced scale fragmentary elevational view looking toward the right of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional plan view taken substantially in the plane of line Ill-Ill of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail the plane of line lV-IV of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional detailed view taken substantially along the lines V-V of FIG. 3.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a prefabricated facia according to the present invention comprises a unitary, complete, preferably extruded metal, viz. aluminum, member suitably coated and finished as by means of porcelainized enamel, and adapted to be mounted without any need for structural backing plate or panel directly along the ends of rafter tails ll of a building construction. As is customary, the rafter tails II project outwardly on rafters 12 supported on plates 13 carried on the upper ends of studs 14. On the rafters is supported roofing which may, as shown, comprise an under sheathing of insulative panels 15 such as fiber board or gypsum board with an overlay sheathing 17 of planks or plywood panels on top of which roof covering of any suitable roofing material such as shingles 18 is laid, and providing a sloping roof.

In a preferred form, the prefabricated facia I0 is extruded in strip form with a body panel 19 of suitable width and length to extend along and cover the vertical ends of the rafter tails Ill and the edge of the roof sheathing l5, l7. For example, the facia strip It) may be typically up to 28 feet long and with the body panel 19 about 5% inch over all width whereby to provide a continuous facing in one strip along the rafter tail ends and the roof sheathing along an entire continuous side of a building. At corners the facia strip lends itself read ily to miter joint joining by simple saw cutting for flush application.

For light weight and economy, the prefabricated facia It) should be of minimum section consistent with manufacture and handling withoutwarpage. Excellent results have been obtained with an extruded aluminum thickness in at least the panel l9 of about three thirty second inch. Reinforcing means in the form of longitudinally extending spaced parallel ribs 20 are provided integrally on the back or inside face of the panel I9 spaced from the opposite longitudinal edges of the panel. Along one edge of the panel, which in the erected condition of the panel lying in a vertical plane and extending horizontally in closing relation to the rafter tail ends isthe top edge, an integrally reinforcing attachment and flashing flange 21 is provided which is arranged to extend angularly from the back or interface of the panel at an angle corresponding to the pitch of the roof and arranged to overly the edge of the roof sheathing, being superimposed upon the margin of the sheathing panel 17 and securedin place as by means of nails 22 driven therethrough and through the sheathing into the tops of the rafter tails II. A width of about one inch in the flange 21 has been found practical.

Along the lower margin of the facia panel 19 means are provided for securing it to the rafter tails, and in addition means are provided for accommodating sofflt structure. To this end, an attachment flange 23 is provided integrally along the lower margin of the panel 19 and to extend horizontally inwardly from the back face thereof a sufficient distance, for example, 1% inch, to enable attachment thereof conveniently to the horizontally edges on the under sides of the rafter tails 11 as by means of nails 24. As thus installed, the facia 10 is thoroughly secured to the building structure and by having the ribs 20 abutting the ends of the rafter tails II, or at least some of them depending upon how flush the rafter tail ends are disposed in the structure, adequate resistance to inward distorting forces such as may be imposed by the tops of ladders leaning thereagainst I is provided for.

In addition to its function as an attachment flange,

V the lower flange 23 serves also as part of soffit channel means in cooperation ,with'a generally L-shaped integral soffit flange extension 25 on the lower margin of the panel 19 and having a channel forming leg extending inwardly at the lower edge of the panel throughout the length of the panel and provided with a reinforcing.

to enable convenient nailing access to the flange 23 past the inner edge of the flange 25. For this purpose, the flange 25 may have a width of about three-fourths of an inch as compared to the 1% inch width of the flange 23. In a practical manner, the nails 24 may be secured not only through the flange 23, but also through the soffit panel 28 which inwardly from the facia may be additionally secured to the horizontal undersides of the rafter tails as by means of nails 29. in preferred construction, the soffit panel comprises a laminar structure of hard board or plywood backing and a thin metal such as aluminum outer facing 30 which is desirably provided with the same finish as the facia, such as porcelainized enamel. The facing sheet 30 is suitably permanently bonded to the soffit backing panel.

Since it is generally not practical to construct the soffit panel 28 of the same length as the facia panel, so that along any given length of the facia one or more joints may be present in the soffit, means for effecting neat joint closure and connection are provided in the form of generally l-l-shaped strips 31 (FIGS. 2-5) providing opposite channels within which the adjoining edges of the soffit panels are engaged. Desirably, the joint strips 31 are constructed as aluminum extrusions finished to match the soffit panels. The joint strips can be produced in any preferred convenient extruded length and cut into sections of suitable length to fit the particular soffit width which may vary from relatively narrow as shown to substantial canopy width to meet various preferences. To accommodate the differential in attachment and soffit flange widths on the facia 10, the joint strip 30 is desirably notched out in its end portion nearest the facia, as best seen in FIG. 5, to clear the adjacent free edge of the attachment flange 23 and yet provide neat joint covering between adjoining soffit panels 28 up to the lip flange structure 27. Thereby, the lower flange of the joint strip 31 extends to the lip flange whereas the remainder of the joint strip is cut back to clear the flange 23.

At its inner end, the joint strip 31 preferably extends coextensive with the inner edge of the soffit panels and in overlying relation to the upper edge wall sheathing 32 and wall covering such as siding 33 and suitably finished to blend with or provide a contrast to the finish of the facia l and soffit 28.

Where no soffit is desired, the soffit flange 25 may be located in superposed relation to the top edge of the siding 33 or in abutting relation of the lip flange structure 27 with the upper margin of the siding. By having the soffit flange 25 provided with the reinforcing and upwardly projecting spacer lip flange 27, excellent drip run off is provided avoiding tendency for capillary or wind pressure water movement into the soffit channel between the flanges 23 and 25. This is especially advantageous where the soffit flange is exposed along the soffit or along the upper margin of the siding.

It will be understood that variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of this invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a building construction having a sloping roof including sloping roof rafters supporting roof sheathing having an edge along the tops of vertical ends of the roof rafter tails, and roof covering on the sheathing, said tail ends having horizontal underside edges:

an extruded prefabricated facia strip extending along the rafter tail ends and having a vertical body panel concealing said vertical rafter ends and provided along its top edge with a straight flat flashing attachment flange angled to match the roof slope and overlying the roof sheathing edge portion under said roof covering;

nails securing said flashing attachment flange in place on the sheathing;

flange structure on the lower end of the facia body panel underlying the rafter tails and comprising a pair of vertically spaced horizontally extending flanges the upper of which is wider than the lower to provide clearance for securing the wider flange to the horizontal undersides of the rafter tails, and the lower of which flanges includes'an inwardly extending portion having an upwardly extending free edge reinforcing and finishing lip flange extending I upwardly a short distance and then outwardly a short distance in spaced parallel relation under the wider flange to seat a soffit panel, and defining a pocket in which sealing compound may be carried;

a soffit panel having a margin engaged between said pair of flanges and seated on said finishing lip flange;

securing nails extending through said soffit panel and said wider flange and into said horizontal underside edges of the rafter tails;

and a plurality of spaced identical reinforcing ribs extending longitudinally horizontally along the back of said body panel spaced from said flashing attachment flange and from said flange structure and engaging at least certain of the vertical ends of the rafter tails.

2. A building construction according to claim l, including additional securing nails driven through said soffit and into said horizontal underside edges of the rafter tails spaced from said flange structure.

3. A building construction according to claim 1, wherein the soffit panel comprises portions of shorter length than the facia strip and having adjoining edges, and an extruded l-l-shaped joint closure strip provided with opposite channels within which the adjoining edges of the soffit panel portions are engaged, said joint strip being notched out at its end portion nearest the facia strip to clear the free edge of said wider flange, the joint strip having a lower flange which extends beyond the notch-out to the lip flange so as to fully conceal the joint. 

1. In a building construction having a sloping roof including sloping roof rafters supporting roof sheathing having an edge along the tops of vertical ends of the roof rafter tails, and roof covering on the sheathing, said tail ends having horizontal underside edges: an extruded prefabricated facia strip extending along the rafter tail ends and having a vertical body panel concealing said vertical rafter ends and provided along its top edge with a straight flat flashing attachment flange angled to match the roof slope and overlying the roof sheathing edge portion under said roof covering; nails securing said flashing attachment flange in place on the sheathing; flange structure on the lower end of the facia body panel underlying the rafter taIls and comprising a pair of vertically spaced horizontally extending flanges the upper of which is wider than the lower to provide clearance for securing the wider flange to the horizontal undersides of the rafter tails, and the lower of which flanges includes an inwardly extending portion having an upwardly extending free edge reinforcing and finishing lip flange extending upwardly a short distance and then outwardly a short distance in spaced parallel relation under the wider flange to seat a soffit panel, and defining a pocket in which sealing compound may be carried; a soffit panel having a margin engaged between said pair of flanges and seated on said finishing lip flange; securing nails extending through said soffit panel and said wider flange and into said horizontal underside edges of the rafter tails; and a plurality of spaced identical reinforcing ribs extending longitudinally horizontally along the back of said body panel spaced from said flashing attachment flange and from said flange structure and engaging at least certain of the vertical ends of the rafter tails.
 2. A building construction according to claim 1, including additional securing nails driven through said soffit and into said horizontal underside edges of the rafter tails spaced from said flange structure.
 3. A building construction according to claim 1, wherein the soffit panel comprises portions of shorter length than the facia strip and having adjoining edges, and an extruded H-shaped joint closure strip provided with opposite channels within which the adjoining edges of the soffit panel portions are engaged, said joint strip being notched out at its end portion nearest the facia strip to clear the free edge of said wider flange, the joint strip having a lower flange which extends beyond the notch-out to the lip flange so as to fully conceal the joint. 